The son of jailed Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera—who has been serving a life sentence within the US since 2019—was arrested together with a cartel co-founder who helped lead it for 3 many years on Thursday, July 25, by the FBI, federal authorities introduced.
Joaquín Guzmán López, 38, and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, 76, have each been indicted within the U.S., they usually face “a number of expenses” in reference to the Mexico-based felony group, “together with its lethal fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks,” stated Lawyer Normal Merrick Garland in a assertion.
Within the wake of the shock arrests of two alleged Mexican drug lords in Texas, three legislation enforcement officers say that investigators imagine one of many males could have fooled the opposite into getting on a airplane to the U.S. The Wall Road Journal reported that Zambada was tricked into boarding the airplane by a high-ranking Sinaloa member following a months-long operation by Homeland Safety Investigations and the FBI.
U.S. authorities say they’ve arrested two of essentially the most highly effective drug traffickers on this planet, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a long-time chief of a serious Mexican cartel and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of “El Chapo.” Each males are in custody in El Paso, Texas. pic.twitter.com/Nubwe6L8t9
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 26, 2024
Guzmán was flown by authorities to Chicago, whereas Zambada remained in El Paso.
The notorious drug trafficker, one of many three founders and, till now, chief of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, appeared in courtroom in El Paso on Friday for an preliminary look. He entered a not responsible plea and waived his arraignment and detention hearings, in line with courtroom data.
It’s an unprecedented blow to 2 of essentially the most wished drug traffickers on this planet, accused of extortion, corruption, drug trafficking, and cash laundering.
Zambada was indicted in Brooklyn in February for fentanyl trafficking, amongst different expenses, and each males are going through a number of expenses within the U.S. for main the cartel’s felony operations, together with its lethal fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks.
“Garcia and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of 1000’s of kilos of medication into the US, together with associated violence,” FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in an announcement.
Lopez is considered one of El Chapo’s 12 kids, 4 of whom go by the nickname “Los Chapitos” as a result of they’re accused of being closely concerned in Sinaloa’s operations. Lopez was first indicted on federal drug trafficking expenses in 2018 and has had a number of expenses since then.
President Joe Biden on Friday counseled legislation enforcement for making the arrests and “their work to carry Sinaloa Cartel leaders to justice.”
